gantlet

UK: /ˈɡæntlɪt/ US: (gant′lit, gônt′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

gant•let¹  (gant′lit, gônt′-), n. 

1. Rail Transport a track construction used in narrow places, in which two parallel tracks converge so that their inner rails cross, run parallel, and diverge again, thus allowing a train to remain on its own track at all times.
2. gauntlet² (defs. 1, 2, 4).

v.t. 

3. Rail Transport to form or lay down as a gantlet:
   to gantlet tracks.

Also, gauntlet (for defs. 1, 3).

• variant of gantlope 1900–05

gant•let²  (gant′lit, gônt′-), n. 

1. Heraldry gauntlet¹.

gant′let•ed, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

gantlet / ˈɡæntlɪt ˈɡɔːnt-/ noun

1. a section of a railway where two tracks overlap
2. 
   a variant spelling of gauntlet2

Etymology: 17th Century gantlope (modern spelling influenced by gauntlet¹), from Swedish gatlopp, literally: passageway, from gata way (related to gate³) + lop course

gantlet / ˈɡæntlɪt ˈɡɔːnt-/ noun

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

gaunt•let¹ /ˈgɔntlɪt, ˈgɑnt-/   n. 

[countable]
1. Heraldry a medieval glove made partly with metal, worn with a suit of armor to protect the hand.
2. Clothing a glove with an extended, long cuff:
   a police officer's motorcycle gauntlets.

Idioms

3. Idioms take up the gauntlet, to accept a challenge to fight.
4. Idioms throw down the gauntlet, to challenge someone to fight.

gaunt•let² /ˈgɔntlɪt, ˈgɑnt-/   n. [countable]

1. a former punishment, chiefly military, in which the offender was made to run between two rows of men who struck at him with switches or weapons as he passed.
2. an attack from two or more sides.

Idioms

3. Idioms run the gauntlet, to suffer severe criticism or attacks.

Also, gantlet (for def. 1, 2. 4. in Unabridged dictionary).

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

gaunt•let¹  (gônt′lit, gänt′-), n. 

1. Heraldry a medieval glove, as of mail or plate, worn by a knight in armor to protect the hand.
2. Clothing a glove with an extended cuff for the wrist.
3. Clothing the cuff itself.
4. Idioms take up the gauntlet:
   • to accept a challenge to fight:
     He was always willing to take up the gauntlet for a good cause.
   • to show one's defiance. Also, take up the glove. 
5. Idioms throw down the gauntlet:
   • to challenge.
   • to defy.

Also, throw down the glove. 

• Gmc *want-; compare Old Norse vǫttr
• Middle French, diminutive of gant glove
• late Middle English gantelet 1375–1425

gaunt′let•ed, adj. 

gaunt•let²  (gônt′lit, gänt′-), n. 

1. a former punishment, chiefly military, in which the offender was made to run between two rows of men who struck at him with switches or weapons as he passed.
2. the two rows of men administering this punishment.
3. an attack from two or all sides.
4. trying conditions;
   an ordeal.
5. gantlet¹ (def. 1).
6. Idioms run the gauntlet, to suffer severe criticism or tribulation.

v.t. 

7. gantlet¹ (def. 3).

Also, gantlet (for defs. 1, 2, 4).

• alteration of gantlope 1670–80

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

gauntlet / ˈɡɔːntlɪt/, gantlet noun

1. a medieval armoured leather glove
2. a heavy glove with a long cuff
3. take up the gauntlet ⇒ to accept a challenge
4. throw down the gauntlet ⇒ to offer a challenge

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French gantelet, diminutive of gant glove, of Germanic origin

gauntlet / ˈɡɔːntlɪt/ noun

1. a punishment in which victims are forced to run between two rows of people who strike at them as they pass: formerly a military punishment
2. run the gauntlet ⇒ to suffer this punishment
3. to endure an onslaught or ordeal, as of criticism
4. a testing ordeal; trial
5. a variant spelling of gantlet11

Etymology: 15th Century: changed (through influence of gauntlet¹) from earlier gantlope; see gantlet¹